Sunday, November 20, 2011

The real Cormac McCarthy is out there somewhere pulling a novel out of a horse skull. This tumblr is the work of EDW Lynch.


EDW Lynch, this is amazing!
EDW Lynch, Corporate Manglomerate
A blog that answers the ques­tion on everyone’s minds: What if Cor­mac McCarthy was on Yelp? 
Answer: chap­ar­ral.

The 2011 National Book Award Winners

FICTION:  Jesmyn Ward, Salvage the Bones (Bloomsbury USA) 

NONFICTION: Stephen Greenblatt, The Swerve: How the World Became Modern (W. W. Norton & Company)

 POETRY: Nikky Finney, Head Off & Split  (TriQuarterly, an imprint of Northwestern University Press)

YOUNG PEOPLE'S LITERATURE: Thanhha Lai, Inside Out & Back Again (Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers)

 

 

 

 

 

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The Marbled Swarm is Dennis Cooper’s most haunting work to date.

The Marbled Swarm By Dennis Cooper

Book Description
In secret passageways, hidden rooms, and the troubled mind of our narrator, a mystery perpetually takes shape—and the most compelling clue to its final nature is “the marbled swarm” itself, a complex amalgam of language passed down from father to son.

Cooper ensnares the reader in a world of appearances, where the trappings of high art, old money, and haute cuisine obscure an unspeakable system of coercion and surrender. And as the narrator stalks an elusive truth, traveling from the French countryside to Paris and back again, the reader will be seduced by a voice only Dennis Cooper could create.



Let's talk about books Baby...


Instructions for Killing the Jackal


Erica Wright is the author of the forthcoming collection of poems Instructions for Killing the Jackal (Black Lawrence Press/Dzanc Books) and the chapbook Silt (Dancing Girl Press). She is the Poetry Editor at Guernica Magazine.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Cornel West to Take a Job in New York


Cornel West Large
Cornel West, the peripatetic public intellectual and political activist, plans to finish out a teaching career that has taken him from Yale to Harvard to Princeton by moving back this coming summer to Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, where he began as an assistant professor in 1977. 

Click here for the rest of the article by Laurie Goodstein, published on November 16, 2011

Ben Balistreri

DreamWorks Animation storyboard artist and character designer Balistreri is a genius! I love this artist and you need to see some of my favorite superheroes get a retro makeover by visiting his blog.

Brooklyn Fire Proof // 119 Ingraham / Morgan L


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FREE
November 19th
Fireside Follies, the relatively young Bushwick reading/arts series we're keeping our eye on, presents another exciting line-up of readers with Lynne Tillman, Rachel Zucker, Martin Rock, Carter Edwards, and Bianca Stone. In the past they've presented an always hip, intimate, and interesting mix of writers, musicians, and artists including Nick Zinner, Eileen Myles, Gavin McInnes, and Jeffrey Lewis. Get there early and enjoy a hot toddy or a whiskey cider in the garden.
by Rozalia Jovanovic, Flavorpill

Audio Collector's Set

For a Limited Time: Get 30 CDs worth of recordings at a 30% discount—on an easy-to-use flash drive. This special collector's set includes readings by more than 30 poets—from some of the most important poetry events of the twentieth century.
Audio Collector's Set
Poets featured in this set include: John Ashbery, Margaret Atwood, W. H. Auden, John Berryman, Louise Bogan, Joseph Brodsky, Rita Dove, Robert Duncan, Allen Ginsberg, Louise Glück, Marilyn Hacker, Robert Hass, June Jordan, Kenneth Koch,Yusef Komunyakaa, Philip Levine, Audre Lorde, Robert Lowell, Heather McHugh, Czeslaw Milosz, James Merrill, W. S. Merwin, George Oppen, Robert Pinsky, Adrienne Rich, James Tate, Derek Walcott, James Wright, and Charles Wright.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

James Copeland Reading for SUPERMACHINE

Wed Nov 16, 7:30 PM
at Death By Audio, 49 South 2nd Street, Brooklyn
Featuring music by touring Slumberland band SEALIONS
$5 door cover helps support the venue, pay for required staffing, and pay the touring band.
Featuring brief readings by:
James Copeland (Managing Director for UDP)
Anna Fitzgerald
Elaine Kahn
Ryan Doyle May
Dan Magers
Dan Hoy
Bianca Stone
Sampson Starkweather
Jackqueline Frost
Guy Pettit
!!!!!!!!!!!


Thursday, November 3, 2011

In Guernica: November guest editor Porochista Khakpour explores the protean category of “Iranian-American” and its assorted manifestations.


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When was the last time you saw a book by an Iranian author that did not feature on its cover a Persian carpet, pomegranates, faux Middle Eastern arabesque fonts, or a woman in some sort of headscarf?

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Songs for the New Depression

The critically acclaimed debut novel of Kergan Edwards-Stout, Songs for the New Depression, is available now in hardcover, paperback, and all e-Book formats, and can be purchased at BarnesandNoble.comAmazon.com, and other fine booksellers.

Told from Travers’ first-person perspective, the story moves in reverse, chronicling his death in the first pages before moving to his adult life struggling with HIV and on to his adventuresome youth. Edwards-Stout excels at characterization, cleverly arming his plucky protagonist with a contagious combination of wit and droll self-deprecation. Travers skillfully navigates each stage of his life, from a young, spirited gay man to a paranoid adult whose mortality hinges on the dormancy of a fatal virus, all the while keeping his pride and wry sense of humor remain beautifully intact.

Drawn from his experiences as an AIDS caregiver and surviving partner, Edwards-Stout infuses reality and hopefulness into a bittersweet story about compassion and personal growth.  A distinctively entertaining gay novel written with moxie and bolstered by pitch-perfect perspectives.”
Gabriel Travers knows he's dying; he just can't prove it. Despite his doctor's proclamations to the contrary and rumors of a promising new HIV drug cocktail, all it takes is one glance into the mirror to tell Gabe everything he needs to know. His ass, once the talk of West Hollywood, now looks suspiciously like a Shar-Pei, prompting even more talk around town.

Back in his 20's, life had been so easy. Caught up in the 1980's world of LOVE! MONEY! SEX!, Gabe thought he'd have it all. But every effort to better himself ended in self-sabotage, and every attempt at love left him with only a fake number, scrawled on a realtor's notepad.

The only happiness he could remember was in high school, where he'd met Keith, his first love.  Only Keith had recognized the goodness within, and knew of the brutal attack Gabe had faced, the effects of which still rule his life today.

Now almost 40, and with the clock ticking, Gabe begins to finally peel back the layers and tackle his demons - with a little help from the music of the Divine Miss M and his mom's new wife, a country music-loving priest.

Praise for Songs for the New Depression:
"Kergan Edwards-Stout's Songs for the New Depression is a bold reminder that life, especially in its most difficult moments, is worth living.  His characters are real and poignant, his writing is magical, and his message is timeless. Life is at its most precious when we are faced with our own mortality. It is an important book that I rarely wanted to put down."  Charles Perez, author of Confessions of a Gay Anchorman and founder of the No Shame Project.

"Songs for the New Depression carries you away on waves of humor and sadness as the protagonist deals with his search for love, acceptance and his battle with AIDS. Far from being maudlin, it is extremely sensitive and ennobling. A fine work that will leave you wanting more."  Robert Michael Morris, star of TV's The Comeback and author of An American Scrapbook

Advocate.com raves that “Kergan Edwards-Stout has crafted a work of fiction reminiscent of some classic tales in Songs for the New Depression. Even better, Edwards-Stout’s debut boasts the kind of dark humor that made Augusten Burroughs (Running With Scissors, Dry) a household name.”
Kirkus Discoveries Review:  “Edwards-Stout’s engaging debut introduces sassy, outspoken Gabe Travers, a sarcastically witted, near-40, Southern California guy whose homosexuality ‘has never been an issue’ and whose particular fondness for Paris, France, and Bette Midler has carried him through some of life’s more challenging episodes.

Kergan Edwards-Stout has had short stories published in a number of publications, including American Short Fiction and the health magazine SexVibe. He is an award-winning director, screenwriter, and author, whose debut novel, Songs for the New Depression, will be released in late October. He is honored to have been selected as one of the Human Rights Campaign's 2011 Fathers of the Year.


An Interview with Kergan Edwards-Stout

What inspired you to write your first book?
Over 12 years ago, out of the blue, a line popped into my head:  “James Baldwin once wrote that Americans lack a sense of doom, yet here I stand.”  At the time, I didn’t know where that line came from, who was speaking it, or what it would become, but that line stuck with me, eventually becoming the first line of the novel. I’d read Giovanni’s Room many years ago, and that concept, that Americans lack a sense of doom, really resonated.  Except, for me, having lost a partner and many others to AIDS, I feel as if I’ve known doom all too well.

Is there any special method to your writing?
I try to serve the story, in whatever way I think fits best.  I’ve written light, funny things, as well as darker, moodier work.  Songs for the New Depression walks a balance between comedy and tragedy, which is very challenging.  

How many hours a day do you spend reading/writing?
Wow—Great question!  It took me over 12 years to write this first book, which happened in fits and starts.  I have two kids, as well as a full-time job, and it is really hard—at the end of a long day—to fit everything in.  But I finally decided that if I was to finish the book, I’d have to sacrifice in order to do it.  So I started getting up each morning at 5AM to go to the gym, which then gave me more time later in the morning for writing, and I also started saying “no” to my kids—which is very hard to do—but I made it clear to them that when Daddy is working, he needs to focus. 
A typical day is 1-2 hours, but if I have extra time, I put it towards writing.

What inspires you to continue being a writer?
I was reminded again, when Steve Jobs died, of how fragile life is.  He had a great quote about how our time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.  And that is just it:  find your passion and do it.  Otherwise, you’re just wasting hours, instead of finding life invigorating.

If you could have been the author of any novel, which title would it be and why?
I am a huge fan of Armistead Maupin, who wrote the Tales of the City series, all of which are just brilliant.  I love his ability to quickly draw you in, sketch out the characters, and involve you emotionally.  With each of the books in that series, despite the lapse of time from first book to the last, he was able to really capture each of those specific eras, and bring them and the people who lived then fully to life on the page.  I try to do the same with my writing.  His series remains instrumental in my life, and every few years, I pick them all up and read them again.

Do you think you will ever change audiences?
So much of what I see and write is framed by my life experiences, and as I’m a gay man, that is a key element of most of what I write.  However, after my next book, a memoir, I’m looking at writing a novel based on a screenplay I penned, which is very much for children.  It mixes elements of Harry Potter and the movie A Christmas Story, and takes its readers on a fantastical journey.  Definitely a different audience!

What advice would you give anyone who wants to become a published author?
Do your homework and learn everything you can.  While I first tried going the traditional route, sending the manuscript to agents and publishers, I finally decided to do it myself.  My book is literary fiction, and as there is a glut on the market, publishers aren’t interested.  Not knowing any better, I almost went the Lulu route, as many of my friends had done, which—for me and my ultimate goals—would have been a mistake.  Instead, I formed my own micro-publishing company and am releasing the book through that.  Having it come through a company gives it more cache than the other route, and by cutting out the middleman, the royalties are much better.  For anyone considering this option, check out Aaron Shepard’s book “POD for Profit.”

And do you have a list of favorite books/authors?
I have very eclectic tastes.  I love Michael Cunningham’s work, particularly The Hours.  Robin Lippincott’s Our Arcadia I found really wonderful.  Writer Louis Bayard has moved into genre stuff, which doesn’t always appeal to me, but his first novel is a really fun romp called Fool’s Errand.  And I love nothing better than curling up next to the fire with a Maeve Binchy novel.  In fact, much of today’s literary fiction I find over-written and hard to connect with.  Sometimes, when it comes to a good read, storytelling and simplicity beats technique, hands-down.

Brian Turner takes a turn as guest editor, and an emerging poet wins a big prize. You could say we're even more excited that usual about Guernica's poetry section.

As I read through the poems gathered for this issue, I found the pulse of the city insisting that it be heard—even in poems which leaned more toward a pastoral tradition. In the Paris of Pascale Petit’s “My Father’s City”—“The gargoyles’ cheeks flush / from the strain of breathing for you.” In “Smoke,” Michael Symmons Roberts asks, “What new edifice / hardens within, waits for the world to sharpen.” Dunya Mikhail takes us to “Hong Kong,” where the flowers are “everywhere: / on porcelain, / on bracelets, / on ashtrays, / on silken cravats, / on hems of coats, / on carpets, / on walls, / in meals, / in paintings, / in speeches...” Billy Ramsell’s “Distant Fears” recognizes that “The tide’s placid, insistent tongue is only wave / after wave of finance washing up on this green haven.” And, finally, Matthew Sweeney’s poem (“The Sleepwalker”) offers an intricate puzzle of consciousness and intent which begins with this opening gem of Carver-esque minimalism: “The sleepwalker shot himself / on the bridge over the freeway.”

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"Zone One"

Colson Whitehead is a literary novelist, but his latest book, “Zone One,” features zombies, which means horror fans and gore gourmands will soon have him on their radar. He has my sympathy. 


To read more of this article click here.

The 2011 Editions|Artists' Book Fair

The 2011 Editions|Artists' Book Fair will take place Friday, 4 November to Sunday, 6 November.
Founded in 1998 by Susan Inglett of I.C. Editions and Brooke Alexander Editions, the Editions|Artists' Book Fair has grown in size and stature to become the premier showcase for contemporary publishers and dealers, presenting the latest and greatest in prints, multiples and artists' books. The Editions|Artists' Book Fair is well known for its vibrant energy and innovation, thanks to over sixty exhibitors, presenting hundreds of artists representing New York, Johannesburg, Amsterdam, London, Paris and points in between. The Editions|Artists' Book Fair was the first fair to offer FREE admission, initiated with the intent of introducing a broader public to the medium of prints, multiples, and artists' books. Fourteen years later the Fair continues to do just that.


PRESS RELEASE






"I Found This Funny" edited by Judd Apatow

I Found This Funny is a compilation of work by some of Judd Apatow's favorite authors. The book showcases many different styles of writing, from fiction to short humor to essays to comedy sketches to poetry. Featured writers include F. Scott Fitzgerald, Conan O'Brien, Lorrie Moore, Paul Feig, Jonathan Franzen, Alice Munro, and many more. Proceeds from the book will go to 826 National, a nonprofit tutoring, writing, and publishing organization with locations in eight cities across the country.

"This slick volume is full of compulsively readable and downright perverted nuggets." 
Time Out Chicago

"[A] hilarious treat." 
Los Angeles Times

"It Chooses You" by Miranda July

Elegantly blending narrative, interviews, and photographs with July's off-kilter honesty and deadpan humor, this is a story of procrastination and inspiration, isolation and connection, and grabbing hold of the invisible world.
To find out more about Miranda July and her upcoming events, click here

It Chooses You